Sissy Spacek as Miriam Thompson

Whoopi Goldberg as Odessa Cotter

Dwight Schultz as Norman Thompson

Ving Rhames as Herbert Cotter

Dylan Baker as Tunker Thompson

Erika Alexander as Selma Cotter

Lexi Randall as Mary Catherine

Richard Habersham as Theodore Cotter

Jason Weaver as Franklin Cotter

Crystal Robbins as Sara Thompson

Cherene Snow as Claudia

Chelcie Ross as Martin

Dan Butler as Charlie

Philip Sterling as Winston

Schuyler Fisk as Judy (Girl at Oak Park)

Nancy Moore Atchison as Anne (Girl at Oak Park)

Haynes Brooke as Policeman at Oak Park

Jim Aycock as Roger

Rebecca Wackler as Lucille

Charles Hubbard as Mr. Cooper

Harriet Sumner as Mrs. Cooper

Gleaves Azar as Grandma Thompson

Jim Haffey as Bus Driver

Stacy Fleming as Tall Boy

Jefferson Taffet as Boy #2

Jay Reed as Boy #3

Afemo Omilami as Taxi Driver

Debbie Hackett as Betsy

Lynne Pickering as Laura Ann

Fairley McDonald as Jeff Sewell

Graham Timbes as Clyde Sellers

Norman Matlock as Preacher

Dorrell Dorsey as Woman in Church

Bobby Howard as Clipboard Man

Cynthia B. Wilson as Black Maid

Dan Jenkins as Auburn Fan #1

Katherine Conely as Mrs. Midgley

Sherwood 'Ric' Pearson as George Millo

Kevin Thigpen as Worker #1

Everett McCorvey as Church Speaker

T. Clifford Bibb as Choir Leader

A. Bernard Sneed as Organist

David E. McCorvey as Older Black Man

Carl Stephens as Newscaster

Perry Carter as Sammy Chancelor

Henry Marcus Jr. as Cliff

Troy La Don Pate as Party Guest

Michael Sansom as Angry Man (Eugene)

Dorothy Love Coates as Lead Singer at Car Lot

Christine Windham as Singer #1 at Car Lot

Gladys Bozwell as Singer at Car Lot

Betty Jean Washington as Singer at Car Lot

Minnie Stringer as Singer at Car Lot

Callie Graham as Singer at Car Lot

Lillian Luddington as Singer at Car Lot

Fidella Earls as Singer at Car Lot

Cynthia King as Singer at Car Lot

Mary Steenburgen as Narrator (voice)